Year: 2017

New Website Gallery Formats

New Website Gallery Formats

You have probably noticed a variety of gallery formats as you browse the website. The experimentation process is over now and a final format has been implemented throughout the galleries. The format is a simple one. All of the pictures are loaded on a single page of the gallery. Click one image and the big slideshow will open. From there, scroll through to view all of the images. Click the “View full size” link to see the larger version of a specific image, which can be expanded even further using the Maximize Icon. The screenshots below will help you navigate, but it is really pretty intuitive. I hope.  

Midland Gem and Mineral Society Presentation--Updated!

Midland Gem and Mineral Society Presentation–Updated!

Updated November 8 Here’s the Midland Gem and Mineral Society Facebook Posting about this presentation: My presentation to the Midland Gem and Mineral Society went great.  I took many rock pictures and specimens which everyone enjoyed.  Raymond Boswell was invaluable in the technical aspect of a visual slide presentation on the auditorium screen in the Sibley Nature Center.  Bill Halepeska did a great job assisting me in presenting the information to a large and interested group.  Thanks to Raymond, Bill, and the membership for sharing the evening with me.

The Blue Druzy

The Blue Druzy

Blue druzy unexpectedly discovered while disposing of brush. What a lucky accidental find! Click on an image to open the slideshow for larger views.

New Stones from 'The Carver'

New Stones from ‘The Carver’

Here are several new stones from ‘the Carver’ found, cut and polished by me this September. The yellow banded agate nodule and the blue agate geode are rare finds, and are great additions to my collection. The cut and polished stones shown here will probably appear in bracelets in the near future. These stones, in my view, are incredibly unique free-forms displaying the beauty and diversity of the rocks of ‘the Carver’. Click on the Gallery Picture and a large slideshow opens. The Rock # is displayed in the lower left corner below the picture.  

????????????????????????????????????

NEW Bracelet!

New bracelet made by me, September 2017. A great example of red and yellow agatized jasper from ‘the Carver’.  I can no longer offer this for sale as it is gone already!  No wonder….. it is a very special stone. I will add this bracelet to my bracelet gallery so others can enjoy it, too.

Midland Gem and Mineral Society Presentation

Midland Gem and Mineral Society Presentation

I have been invited to make a presentation to the Midland Gem and Mineral Society about ‘the Carver’ agate find on Thursday, September 28, 2017, at 7:00 pm. I will be providing rock specimens, completed sterling silver bracelets, and over 100 photos demonstrating the extraordinary diversity of the rocks of ‘the Carver’. Bill Halepeska will be joining me in making the presentation and answering questions from the members.  Please contact me for more information.

"Carver Find" Article in Rock & Gem Magazine

“Carver Find” Article in Rock & Gem Magazine

Here is the in-depth article in vol. 47, issue #8 (August 2017) of Rock and Gem Magazine that I mentioned in a previous posting. It’s pretty exciting to get this kind of recognition for the “Carver Find.” Click on each article page image to view a larger version for easier reading. And please let me know what you think in the Comments Section. Thanks.

Happy (Belated) Fourth of July!

Happy (Belated) Fourth of July!

Well, this was supposed to be a Happy Fourth of July Rock Extravaganza posting for you, but computer problems made that impossible. So, now that the computer is back up and running: Happy Belated Fourth of July! Enjoy these rock samples. Hope your Fourth was great.

Rock & Gem Magazine!

Rock & Gem Magazine!

In their August 2017 issue, Rock & Gem Magazine will be running an in-depth article, which I have authored, about ‘the Carver’ agate field. I hope that you take a look at it and let me know what you think. I will be posting the article here at the website later this summer if you do not subscribe to Rock & Gem Magazine. A little about Rock & Gem Magazine: Since 1971, Rock & Gem has been the leading magazine for the lapidary and mineral hobbyist. Not a trade journal and not a scientific dissertation, it speaks to the average rockhound, providing just the right blend of entertainment and satisfying information. Armchair hobbyists and diehard diggers alike will find something to enjoy in each issue. Lifetime hobbyist and Carnegie Award winner Bob Jones heads up a group of experienced and knowledgeable contributors. Bob’s lighthearted style brings readability to in-depth articles on […]

Read More

????????????????????????????????????

New Bracelet

Another new bracelet to add to the collection! This stone is cut from a cross section of a geode found in ‘The Carver’. Petite crystalline center with a ghostly outline surrounding the pure white geode crystals–all surrounded by a virtually transparent glowing golden agate with the outer edge of the geode rind peaking out from under the bezel.  This is an extremely unusual stone. Set in heavy sterling silver band handmade by J.L. Carver, numbered (#20), and marked with John L. Carver service mark.  The stone is from ‘the Carver’ find, completely natural, cut and polished by hand by J.L. Carver.